Price: Military not a testing ground for social policy

ATLANTA — The military should not be a testing ground for social policy, a Republican congressman said in response to a House vote to end the so-called “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy.

“The consequences of repeal go far beyond just allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly but to questions about same-sex marriage, family benefits, and rights of conscience,” U.S. Rep. Tom Price, R-Ga., said in a statement. “The military should never be used as a testing ground for social policy, especially not during wartime. Yet Democrats are showing a disrespect for military personnel by attempting to force through repeal regardless of what the official review will conclude.

“The heads of the Army, Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps have all asked Congress to respect this review process,” Price added. “President Obama’s own Secretary of Defense said this rush to judgment ‘would send a very damaging message to our men and women in uniform that in essence their views, concerns, and perspectives do not matter.’ I could not agree more. This is a shameful attempt to circumvent our Armed Forces, and I do not support it.”

The Senate Armed Services committee also approved a measure to end the policy.